"Welcome to a Special Issue of the Grist" (continued)

	The Grist Staff: Row 1: S. Rosenbloom, M. Wood, C. Fahey, K. Steffer, B. Moosbrugger; Row 2: K. Maltby, G. Erickson, P. Spika, K. Popham, R. McLaughlin

The mind-boggling reality is that 30 years have passed since our senior year at Washburn. Memories have faded for many of us, but I still find it an intriguing journey to take the time to look back and attempt to remember what it was like in 1976. Not all of my memories have been pleasant – in fact some of the events of the past still haunt me to this day. But fond bits and pieces of my life back then also happily exist in my life now, even though at this moment I couldn’t tell you where my yearbooks are, unless they’re hidden in the kids-moved-out-but-we-kept-their-stuff stash in my parents’ basement. I must admit that I still have one of my high fashion prom dresses hanging in the attic. My photos reveal long hair, clogs, tube tops, Earth Shoes, flare pants, letter jackets, and cheerleading outfits – what style we had! Also in my possession are piles of old text books meticulously archived in cardboard apple boxes, as well as beloved record albums hidden away that, on occasion, I unpack just to see if my turntable still works. Most importantly, the glossary I learned through Mr. Beck’s Word Study class still miraculously assists me to this day in my never-ending quest to complete the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzles.

	The Grist Staff: Row 1: G. Rotvold, L. Lincoln, J. Ferguson, K. Nordin, C. LaVine; Row 2: E. Youngdahl, E. Scully, M. Kavoukjian, J. Voigt

High school was a fantastic time of unlimited possibilities and dreams, and at the same time, great confusion, stress, and uncertainty. What would our future hold? Would we go to college? Get a job? Get married, stay happily single, or be in a committed relationship? Would we become teachers, artists, parents, world travelers, political activists, secret service agents, or lawyers? Or maybe we’d be entrepreneurs, pro-wrestlers, volunteers, lottery winners, writers, or even cancer survivors? As you will see in this issue of The Grist, we have found that many of us have become all of these and much more.

When we began this project, we invited all of you to share stories that reflected the past as well as the present. Many of you responded, for which we are extremely thankful, and those articles are included in this special edition.

This has been an entertaining expedition for us on the editorial team. Our “meetings” to review strategies and brainstorm topics were ¾ laughing, eating, drinking, and late night reminiscing, and ¼ actual down and dirty work – “serious” journalism. With background music provided by Hall and Oates, Earth Wind & Fire, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Chicago, we groped for our reading glasses in order to review piles of old Grists, yearbooks, and photos spread out across the table. We fondly recalled our all-night cut and paste sessions of the past, and marveled at how present-day technology allows us put together this special edition Grist so quickly on computer and via e-mail. As we struggled to remember where we had parked our cars that very night, we vehemently denied stories about ourselves during high school years that were shamelessly revealed to the group, yet not in any conscious memory of our own. Yes, we’re all older now and the years have flown by more quickly than we probably care to comprehend. 1976 seems like a lifetime ago, but we have found that remembering the past can amusingly bring back the 17- and 18-year-old in all of us – at least for a short while.

Much appreciation goes out to all of the contributors of these articles for the work and research necessary to write for this edition. On a personal note, significant recognition must go out to Erin Scully Sheehan, the editor of this publication. If not for her vision, undying effort, and continuing organization and management of this project, this WHS Class of 1976 30th Reunion Special Edition Grist would never have happened. We all have worked diligently to make this Grist a memorable and, we hope, entertaining chronicle of our lives then and now, so that you may recall some of the good old days while at the same time read about some of the marvelous accomplishments and life stories of our present. While we see this current effort as the result of many hours of hard work, we don’t consider it to be complete and realize that there are many more captivating stories for others to contribute. To view additional articles and photos, and to participate in creating your own “personal page,” we invite you to visit www.washburn1976.com. Our goal is for this site to be a community meeting place for all of us, so please take advantage of this opportunity.

And by the way, I know that I’m not really “that old” yet. Even though I concede to adulthood, I’m also in this weird and wonderful, ongoing evolutionary process as well. It’s my continuing hope that I, along with all of us, have the fortitude to endure the struggles and set backs that are bound to come into our lives, and the strength, joy, and perseverance to keep moving forward in this lifelong, continuous struggle to achieve whatever it is that we deem successful and fulfilling for ourselves in the years to come.

Keep in touch, and we look forward to hearing from you.